Cunard Cruisers - How are things where you are ?

[Colin_Cameron]

17 hours ago, techteach said:

What type of cake?

A rich fruit cake. I posted the recipe a few years ago, back in post #1328.

 

Oh dear, today is not going well. I had no problems yesterday but having measured out the ingredients today, the mixer refuses to do anything. So it's back to the old standby 1hp mixer (1 human power). My right arm and shoulder now ache. Guess what I'll be asking Santa for this year?

[techteach]

I don’t think I’ve ever had a quality fruit cake. I claim to not like them based on the overly sweet chemical laden fruit that was gifted each Christmas to my mother. They didcome in rather nice tins that I’ve used for many years to hold cookies errr biscuits.

[D&N]

On 11/2/2023 at 7:17 PM, Host Hattie said:

That's come round again quickly!

I hope everyone who was in the path of Storm Ciaran has survived unscathed. 

BA did their best to lower expectations with a series of alarmist emails prior to my wife making her annual trip to see friends and family in Scotland. In the event both flights involved were bang on schedule.

[D&N]

Introducing Coco-Canel, a Chocolate Oriental. Arrived from Bordeaux last night. She has her own room but as Ursel was taking her mid morning nap in the sun, I closed the windows to balcony and let Coco have a sniff around.

 

She hasn't met her new Mummy yet as she left for her cold experience yesterday morning.

 

Canel is an old French spelling of Cannelle (cinnamon) and coco fits her colouring as well. It continues our "el" ending theme, and the hyphenated name ties in with her supermodel status.

[Host Hattie]

Lovely photos, I hope she settles in well.

I've had a shocking week at work but I got tickets to see Bruce Springsteen next May so that's something to look forward to !

[exlondoner]

What enormous ears. I assume she’ll grow into them. Everything must be a bit daunting for her now.

[Bigmike911]

I am sure she will settle in quickly. Ursel will no doubt advise her of her luck in finding two doting new parents. Congratulations. 

[ronpes]

What a beautiful cat. I can't believe the length of that tail !

[rmsEtruria]

5 hours ago, D&N said:

Introducing Coco-Canel, a Chocolate Oriental. Arrived from Bordeaux last night. She has her own room but as Ursel was taking her mid morning nap in the sun, I closed the windows to balcony and let Coco have a sniff around.

 

She hasn't met her new Mummy yet as she left for her cold experience yesterday morning.

 

Canel is an old French spelling of Cannelle (cinnamon) and coco fits her colouring as well. It continues our "el" ending theme, and the hyphenated name ties in with her supermodel status.

Awww . . . Such a dear cutie!

[rmsEtruria]

5 hours ago, D&N said:

Introducing Coco-Canel, a Chocolate Oriental. Arrived from Bordeaux last night. She has her own room but as Ursel was taking her mid morning nap in the sun, I closed the windows to balcony and let Coco have a sniff around.

 

She hasn't met her new Mummy yet as she left for her cold experience yesterday morning.

 

Canel is an old French spelling of Cannelle (cinnamon) and coco fits her colouring as well. It continues our "el" ending theme, and the hyphenated name ties in with her supermodel status.

And from Bordeaux! Medoc, Graves, St. Emilion, Pomerol, or—dare I say—Sauternes?

[ronpes]

My view earlier this morning as I went to turn out the ponies. It was just above freezing ie 1C. 

[Host Hattie]

It's much milder here but we've had lots of rain. 

[Colin_Cameron]

So my first attempt at making gingerbread reindeer for the cakes didn't go to plan. If anyone has a use for gingerbread hippos let me know.😄

[D&N]

With my wife away, my prime task has been to integrate Coco-Canel and Ursel without sustaining scars on their noses. Still the odd hiss but they're getting on very well.

When not resting they madly chase each other around, which should be good for Ursel, who's tummy is probably a few inches bigger than she'd like after 3½ months with Carmel who wasn't fit to play.

On Coco's ears and tail; the photos of her alone make her seem larger than reality. I suspect the tail may fill out rather than get any longer, and likewise her ears may not grow at same rate as body, which is tiny considering she weighs more than Ursel did when a month older.

Ursel is Thai, more old style Siamese, her limbs aren't as long and slender as Coco's.

 

[Bigmike911]

On 11/5/2023 at 11:23 AM, D&N said:

With my wife away, my prime task has been to integrate Coco-Canel and Ursel without sustaining scars on their noses. Still the odd hiss but they're getting on very well.

When not resting they madly chase each other around, which should be good for Ursel, who's tummy is probably a few inches bigger than she'd like after 3½ months with Carmel who wasn't fit to play.

On Coco's ears and tail; the photos of her alone make her seem larger than reality. I suspect the tail may fill out rather than get any longer, and likewise her ears may not grow at same rate as body, which is tiny considering she weighs more than Ursel did when a month older.

Ursel is Thai, more old style Siamese, her limbs aren't as long and slender as Coco's.

 

They are quite a lovely pair. I inherited a Siamese mix some years ago when a pal who buys and remodels houses found her abandoned in a house. The "creatures" who lived there burned a nick in one of her ears, and while not harming her looks it did give us her name Nickus. She was a spry small girl and the last of the three who accompanied me from California to Texas to go on to her next voyage. She loved to drape herself over my knee for warm naps. They make lovely companions, don't they?

[techteach]

@D&N Coco has a hypnotic gaze with those green eyes. I look forward to watching and hearing about her adventures in your family.

[D&N]

Ursel isn't a great jumper and prefers to climb. That mainly restricts her to things she can grip.  Carmel was partially sighted, could jump but restricted herself to targets she was confident of reaching. Hazel was good at jumping and we installed a plate glass screen to left of our kitchen hotplates to deter her from landing on very hot surfaces. We called it an Anti Hazel Screen. I don't think she was ever silly enough to jump from in front of the hobs.

 

Coco can jump ........................................

 

 

[D&N]

For part of the evening I was perched on the front half of my seat catching up on this forum.

When I got up for something they extended their required area.

To encourage the bonding process I opted to kneel on a cushion in front of my computer for about 40 minutes until they woke up and started to disagree about who should lick who and in which direction. Ursel then jumped down and I encouraged Coco-Canel to follow suit and reclaimed my chair.

 

 

[Millieloulou]

As a cat lover, so lovely to see your photos .They are really bonding,and Coco- Canel is showing you who is the boss.

[techteach]

@D&N They are so sweet and I’m glad they’ve bonded.

[MrsPeel55]

On 10/27/2023 at 2:42 PM, NE John said:

I spoke with some residents of these loft condos and hinted to them that they can literally “walk” to England from their home, so close to the terminal. 
These were younger couples and I explained what a TA was all about and they had a high interest and were especially excited about the Gala Night/dressing up part of being onboard. 
 I’ll expect my commission check from Cunard for my marketing efforts…

 

On 11/2/2023 at 6:18 PM, Kynance said:

Do please share a photo of the finished cakes - I’d love to see how they turn out! 

 

same here, always welcome ideas for Christmas`s table 🙂

 

On 11/3/2023 at 4:58 PM, techteach said:

I don’t think I’ve ever had a quality fruit cake. I claim to not like them based on the overly sweet chemical laden fruit that was gifted each Christmas to my mother. They didcome in rather nice tins that I’ve used for many years to hold cookies errr biscuits.

 

My daughter has an aversion to Christmas Purim/cake here, my mother in law used to make them soaked in some extremely sweet syrup....  I had to learn how to make a Christmas table for winter (most of our Christmas until 2003  and even every two years after, were in the tropics, some of the stuff is universal but when you are in north east Brazil or even in scorching heat in Buenos Aires....not much hot food!) when my daughter was little we put together ginger bread houses, I used to make pannetore but the price these days is much cheaper the ones store bought.... even in the Italian or Spanish delicatessen...  never attempted a proper European Christmas cake!

 

On 11/3/2023 at 4:05 PM, Colin_Cameron said:

A rich fruit cake. I posted the recipe a few years ago, back in post #1328.

 

Oh dear, today is not going well. I had no problems yesterday but having measured out the ingredients today, the mixer refuses to do anything. So it's back to the old standby 1hp mixer (1 human power). My right arm and shoulder now ache. Guess what I'll be asking Santa for this year?

 

After burning a LOT of food processors and having issues with my joints and bereaves in the arms, we got Kitchen Aid, a wonderful food processor and the stand mixer.... I didn't even know they existed in this country, I heard about  lot throng all our people in the USA,  in 2020 after so much cooking ion lockdown, when our last processor and  mixer got burned, started looking for something that would last.... we are in love with the Kitchen Aid, both appliances are marvellous, we have friends who have them for over 25 years... if you can ask Santa for that make, they are wonderful (a bit stiff in price but so worth it!!)

 

@D&N  her name suits her indeed! we also sell cinnamon Similarly (canela) she looks like a model indeed! both together look gorgeous 🙂

 

The weather in London is so miserable,  but at least we are cooking and eating some nice food....

earlier on was mozzarella, pesto, roasted red peppers paninis with skin on roast potatoes with oregano and rocket with balsamic dressing 🙂

[NE John]

30 minutes ago, MrsPeel55 said:

we are in love with the Kitchen Aid, both appliances are marvellous

Make sure to buy the meat grinder attachment to make your own ground meat (mince) for best burgers, meatballs, etc. 

[MrsPeel55]

@NE John we have it!!!!! ❤️ 

[techteach]

@NE John I have to get out the kitchen aide and grinder today to make the cranberry relish for Thanksgiving. You grind cranberry’s with onion and add horseradish and sour cream. It is frozen until just ready to serve. No one has touched regular cranberry sauce or jelly since I started making it a few years ago. I think the recipe is on line as Mama Sternbergs.

[MrsPeel55]

@techteach thanks for that!!! sounds like something we will love here!!!